Russia’s “Fertilizer King” Loses the Biggest Divorce Settlement in History

Russia’s “Fertilizer King” Loses the Biggest Divorce Settlement in History

Dmitry Rybolovlev could go down in history for making the biggest ever divorce payout.

Photo by Eric Gaillard/Reuters

Russian billionaire and "fertilizer king" Dmitry Rybolovlev has been ordered to pay more than $4.5 billion to his ex-wife in what the Associated Press reports could wind up being the biggest divorce settlement in history. Rybolovlev began his career as a physician but made his estimated $8.8 billion fortune from selling his stake in potash fertilizer company Uralkali. Today he owns the French soccer club AS Monaco.

ABC reports that the settlement will also grant several valuable antiques to Elena Rybolovleva. These include "a very rare wooden desk with drawers in wood plated with pearl and silver leaf repelled with gold and green highlights" and "an Empire pedestal adorned with a Sèvres porcelain plate depicting 'The History of Love.'" While lawyers in the case are calling the verdict a "complete victory" for Rybolovleva, they expect an appeal within 30 days.

Alison Griswold is a Slate staff writer covering business and economics.